"In the past, it has been done the way they are asking that it be done, but I'm not doing it that way," Austin told AL.com in an interview.

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- An internal debate rages at Birmingham City Hall with several council members incensed over Council President Johnathan Austin's recent firings of central staff members and plans to reorganize the office.

Austin's action has riled several of his colleagues who question Austin's authority to take unilateral action, saying the firings make the city vulnerable to lawsuits.

"I see lawsuits waiting to happen," Councilman Steven Hoyt wrote in an email to Austin.

Council members haven't had a meeting this week, but that hasn't stopped them from taking to their computers to debate among themselves issues of power, policy and personnel.

At least three council members, Hoyt, Lashunda Scales and Council President Pro-tem Jay Roberson, say Austin should have brought his recommendations to the full council, as was done by former council presidents, including Roderick Royal.

Austin in an interview with AL.com defended his actions, saying staff organization is within his authority and council members were given notice of his desire to reorganize the staff.

"In the past, it has been done the way they are asking that it be done, but I'm not doing it that way," Austin said in an interview. "That's what that council president chose to do, but the law does not require me to do that."

Austin said the council's staff had become bloated as the council strayed too far from its primary role.

"It's not easy to do this," he said. "Those changes are impacting people's lives, but with any person in leadership, 'heavy is the head who wears the crown.' The greater the power, the greater the responsibility."

Austin terminated the longtime deputy council administrator, assistant public information officer and a longtime administrative assistant.

Protests and calls for action:

Critics are calling for action, including discussion, an emergency meeting or a visit with lawyers to determine whether the firings were legal.

"Therefore, it is my respectful request that you cease further action to terminate central staff members," Hoyt wrote. "There needs to be a conversation and a discussion with the entire council when it comes to hiring and firing of any central staff employee, to prevent multiple lawsuits for wrongful termination."

Hoyt said the council president was in violation of the Mayor-Council Act by firing the workers.

Council members opposed to Austin's action cite section 3.07 of the Mayor-Council Act, which describes the council's authority to hire employees.

"Employ for and on behalf of said city such employees as the council may deem necessary to assist the council and perform such duties relating to the work of the council as the president of the council may assign. Each such employee shall serve at the pleasure of the council..."

Hoyt and others note that the act gives the president authority to assign duties, but does not give him exclusive right to hire and fire.

Hoyt's initial email began the ongoing, intense discussion among the council.

Roberson also expressed consternation over Austin's actions.

"As an elected official, professional, and individual I will not be a part of the actions he has taken in terminating and hiring individuals with no consent of the members of the Birmingham City Council," Roberson wrote.

Roberson said the firings occurred without a meeting of the council, briefings or even a stated reason.

"I, as a member of the Birmingham City Council, will not be involved in a lawsuit with the termination of these individuals because of one person's actions and directive," Roberson wrote. "My elected position and name is all I have and I will govern myself accordingly if any lawsuit comes to fruition."

Roberson calls for a public emergency meeting to address the issue.

Austin said that meeting won't happen.

Austin has so far declined to respond directly to criticism from his colleagues.

"I will not dignify you alls foolishness with a response. Feel free to share with your team," Austin wrote in an email to Scales that was later sent to other council members.

Austin told AL.com he informed the council of plans to reorganize staff during a weekend work session last month. He said eight of the nine council members were there, but Roberson was absent.

"He may not have known but he would have known if he had come to the meeting," Austin said in an interview. "I went over all this with all the council members, so for them to say they are not aware of what was going on is false."

Scales weighed in on the email debate, pointing to the last hiring of staff members by Royal.

"... I am respectfully requesting that before anymore terminations are administered, that we "cease and desist" until further discussions are had -immediately - and legal documentation to support such 'unilateral' decisions are presented for the council's review and consideration," Scales wrote.

In Austin's defense:

Councilwoman Kim Rafferty, who is normally on the majority, argued that Austin has the authority to hire and fire.

Nevertheless, Rafferty agreed more conversation was needed.

"Only know this - this current situation has been created because of a lack of knowing all, not fully understanding the powers assigned to the council president, and the failure to have established protocol and codes of conduct for our body," Rafferty wrote. "If we are truly serious about bringing clarity and policy to fruition, then let's do it."

Councilwoman Valerie Abbott, the longest-serving member on the council, supports Austin, saying the council president is taking action that his recent predecessors have failed to do.

Further, she said the Council Administrator Cheryl Kidd has the responsibility to direct staff and make recommendations to the president. That process took place, she said.

"The council administrator is supposed to manage the staff and deal with problems via the council president," Abbott wrote. "Unfortunately, the council administrator has received little support from past presidents in dealing with staff issues."

Further, Abbott said, management by committee is ineffective. Austin was within his right as president to take action.

"And face it, if we had a meeting to discuss the staff situation, we would still be talking, and nothing would have been done," she wrote. "The council president probably broke a tooth or two, but he took the first action on staff performance issues (besides hiring their personal friends with NO ONE's prior knowledge) that I have seen in 12 years."